Cruise ideas, popular shore excursions, tips for first-time cruisers, and information on ports of call around the world

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Do Cruise Ships Have Laundry Facilities?

If you're packing for your first cruise, you may be wondering if you'll be able to do laundry on the ship.

After all, you need to take a lot more clothes if you need new clothes for every day of your trip (well, let's hope you're changing daily anyway). If you're going for a multi-week cruise, laundry becomes even more of a concern.

The good news is that almost all ships have laundry facilities. (Ask ahead of time if you're booking a cruise on a small ship.) Fewer ships have dry cleaning service.

When it comes to laundry, don't expect to do it yourself. (Why would you want to on vacation anyway?) Some do have public laundry facilities, but in most you'll have the staff do it.

You'll find price lists in your cabin. Just give clothing to be washed to your steward (they can also press clothing). Items are usually returned in a day, but for additional cost you can get same-day service

Laundry service is generally good and reasonably priced, but the ship laundries are known to use a lot of bleach.